Delhi
Mohan delivered us to Jaipur airport so we could catch our flight to Delhi. The lounge was full because of a delayed flight to Mumbai and the crowd of waiting men were starting to get roudy. A couple were stirring up the group, encouraging them to hassle the security guards and staff - in the back of my mind, I remembered the crowd which got out of control in Mysore when I was there a couple of years ago and hoped they didn’t do anything crazy!
It was raining in Delhi, a steady rain which didn’t seem like it would clear. Dey and I headed for Palkin Plaza to buy an extra bag each to carry all of our purchases. No sooner than I said that I didn’t think I was going to buy that much to warrant a second bag, I promptly bought 3 king size silk doona cover sets which practically filled the bag!
The next day we headed to Old Delhi and immersed ourselves in the bustle, noise and color. We hired two rickshaws to take us up to the Spice market.
The spices were so pungent, it was overwhelming, making us sneeze and our eyes water. The colors and stalls were great and I made sure I stocked up on masalas and curry powder!
As we walked back through the main street, we came across a loud, vibrant parade, with drummers and musicians in the lead, ahead of a large float. We followed as the float was pulled down one of the small side streets and watched two men with long bamboo poles lift the tangle of low hanging powerlines out of the way. It was amazing to watch as they stopped literally every foot or two to carefully lift the wires and eased the carriage through the windy street.
The following day we went to Model Town to stay with Mama and Papa, the parents of Monama, a friend of Dey’s. We sat on the big bed with the family while everyone caught up on the news since Dey’s last visit. We spent the rest of the day looking for fabric, getting measured at the tailors and getting amazing mehendhi drawn on my arms!
Mama cooked at fabulous dinner of Rasma, brinjal and dahl, with some yummy home made curd.
The next day we took an auto to Connaught Place for coffee then then headed to Jan Path and the emporium for more shopping! Dey bought a Nataraj which really pushed her luggage well over the allowed weight limit!
As we wandered back through Connaught place to get another coffee, a voice called out from behind us, “fancy dumping into you here!”. It was Philip, who was with us in Ganeshpuri. He was stretching his legs during his last hour before heading off to the airport to catch a plane back to Melbourne. Talk about the planets aligning! It was an amazing coincidence and we spent the next hour hearing about the group’s trip to Haridwar, feeling excited and envious all at once!
Mama put on another fabulous dinner that night of brinjal and gobi pakoras. On my last full day in Delhi, we wandered around Model Town, collected our new clothes from the tailors and ate more of Mama’s delicious food! That night it was aloo matter, channa masala and palak paneer! Great!
I left Dey and Delhi on the 16th March and headed down to Bangalore to visit Precilla and the other friends I made when I worked for Shell India in 2004. Traffic was crazy as usual and it took 2 hours and a ‘long’ shortcut through a paddock to get from the airport to ITPL to catch up with all the Shellbies there…
Precilla and I spent the next day looking through Russell market and Bridge Road and we tried in vain to find the little shop where I bought the meditation seats on my last trip.
I was really looking forward to going home so was glad to head out to the airport for the long journey home…
What a trip! Ganeshpuri opened my eyes and heart to the possibilities of life without all the angst and crap we get caught up in. I need to remember it when I get caught up in the mundane and unimportant parts of life which so easily take the forefront in our minds and priorities. I will remember it! Om Namah Shivaya! 